César-Auguste-Jean-Guillaume-Hubert Franck (1822 –
1890) was a French Romantic composer, pianist,
organist, and music teacher born in present-day
Belgium. He was born in Liège (which at the time of
his birth was part of the United Kingdom of the
Netherlands). He gave his first concerts there in 1834
and studied privately in Paris from 1835, where his
teachers included Anton Reicha. After a brief return to
Belgium, and a disastrous reception of an early
oratorio Ruth, he moved to Paris, where...(+)
César-Auguste-Jean-Guillaume-Hubert Franck (1822 –
1890) was a French Romantic composer, pianist,
organist, and music teacher born in present-day
Belgium. He was born in Liège (which at the time of
his birth was part of the United Kingdom of the
Netherlands). He gave his first concerts there in 1834
and studied privately in Paris from 1835, where his
teachers included Anton Reicha. After a brief return to
Belgium, and a disastrous reception of an early
oratorio Ruth, he moved to Paris, where he married and
embarked on a career as teacher and organist. He gained
a reputation as a formidable musical improviser, and
travelled widely within France to demonstrate new
instruments built by Aristide Cavaillé-Coll.
In 1858, he became organist at the Basilica of St.
Clotilde, Paris, a position he retained for the rest of
his life. He became professor at the Paris
Conservatoire in 1872; he took French nationality, a
requirement of the appointment. After acquiring the
professorship, Franck wrote several pieces that have
entered the standard classical repertoire, including
symphonic, chamber, and keyboard works for pipe organ
and piano. As a teacher and composer he had a vast
following of composers and other musicians. His pupils
included Ernest Chausson, Vincent d'Indy, Henri Duparc,
Guillaume Lekeu, Albert Renaud, Charles Tournemire and
Louis Vierne.
Like Widor, César Franck (1822–1890) was a Parisian
organist, presiding from 1858 until his death at the
Cavaillé-Coll organ at Ste-Clotilde. The Ave Maria,
with its serene, meditative Vocal line and restrained
accompaniment expresses the composer’s own Roman
Catholic devotion. In my interpretation, the strings
are allowed an entire expression of the first part
before the addition of the Oboe in the second. The
words for Ave Maria have developed over centuries into
their current form, which has been in use in the
Catholic Church for nearly five hundred years. César
Franck’s religious song is among the best known.
Source: Wikipedia
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C3%A9sar_Franck).
Although originally composed for Voices (SAB) and
Keyboard, I created this Interpretation of the "Ave
Maria" (FWV 62) for Oboe & Strings (2 Violins, Viola &
Cello).